Glossary

Affiliation

The institution in the host country with which an applicant will work during the grant term.

Application Status

Initial Notifications All applicants are notified in January as to whether they were designated as Semi-Finalists or Non-Recommended by the Fulbright National Screening Committee. Semi-Finalist applications are forwarded to the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in the host country for final review.

Final Selection Notifications All Semi-Finalists are notified in the spring as to whether they have been selected as a Finalist, designated as an Alternate, or Non-Selected. The exact timing of the notification will vary by country.

Finalist: A candidate who has been offered a Fulbright U.S. Student grant, contingent upon host country approvals, medical clearance, and submission of all required grant documents.

Alternate: A candidate who can be promoted to Finalist status if additional funding becomes available.

Non-Select: A candidate who is no longer under consideration for a Fulbright Award.

At-Large Applicant

A candidate who is not currently enrolled in a U.S. undergraduate or graduate degree program and who is not applying through their alma mater will apply for a Fulbright U.S. Student grant as an At-Large applicant.

Cultural Affairs Officer

The person at a U.S. embassy responsible for monitoring and supervising educational and cultural exchange programs, assisting with placement of grantees, and providing support services to grantees in non-commission countries. In some countries the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. em­bassy may consist of only one officer—the PAO (Public Affairs Officer)—who may be the responsible person. In others, there may be an ACAO (Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer) or APAO (Assistant Public Affairs Officer).

Dependents

Within the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, a dependent is (1) a spouse, or (2) a qualified same-sex domestic partner, or (3) a relative (child, parent or sibling) who is financially dependent on the grantee. A small maintenance allowance may be provided for accompanying dependents in some countries. The balance of maintenance expenses for dependents is the responsibility of the grantee. An accompanying dependent is one spending at least 80 percent of the grant period abroad with the grantee.

FFSB or BoardJ. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board

The FFSB is a presidentially-appointed, 12-member independent body that formulates the policies and selection criteria governing the Fulbright Program and which has legislative responsibility for making final selections

Fulbright Commission/Foundation

A bi-national, autonomous entity established by treaty between the U.S. and the partner country to plan, administer, and supervise the Fulbright Programs between their respective countries. Find out more information and a listing of the 50 Fulbright Commissions.

Fulbright Program Adviser (FPA)

The FPA is appointed by a U.S. college or university to serve as the contact on campus responsible for publicizing Fulbright Program opportunities and for providing guidance on the application process. FPA’s will also coordinate the submission of applications to IIE and will organize the on-campus interview process.

Institute of International Education (IIE)

The private, non-profit agency under contract to the U.S. Department of State to organize publicity, receive and process applications and, through its National Screening Committee (NSC), make recommendations to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board for graduate study/research awards and English Teaching Assistant Programs under the Fulbright Program. IIE also administers the Fulbright U.S. Student grants in Post countries.

National Screening Committee (NSC)

The first stage of the Fulbright application review process is conducted in the U.S. by a panel of university faculty members with expertise in the country or world region (for study/research awards), in TESOL and foreign language (for English Teaching Assistant Programs), and in the specific field of study (for creative and performing arts grants).

Post

The U.S. embassy in the host country responsible for Fulbright Program activities in countries where there is no Fulbright Commission. Responsibility for the Fulbright Program rests with the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the embassy under the direction of the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) or Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO).

Public Affairs Section

The PAS of the U.S. Embassy is responsible for all public affairs activities, including educational and cultural exchanges, as well as speaker programs, press activities, etc. The PAS is the supervi­sory agency for the Fulbright Program in a country with no Commission/Foundation.

Supervising Agency

The Fulbright Commission or U.S. embassy in the host country that has direct responsibility for selecting Fulbright grantees and for supervising grantees during the grant period.

United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)

The sponsor of the Fulbright Program, which operates under policy guidelines established by the FFSB and in cooperation with the bi-national Fulbright Commissions and Public Affairs Sections of U.S. embassies abroad. Visit their website.

Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply. All applicants enrolled in U.S institutions must apply through their home campuses. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

If you are an undergraduate student you would be eligible to apply in your senior year. If you are a graduate student you are eligible to apply to most countries as long as you will not have a PhD degree on the application deadline.

Non-U.S. Student

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, hold a bachelor’s degree, and do not have a PhD degree then you could be eligible for certain awards within the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Please review the program summary for the country where you would like to apply.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 5 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

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U.S. Professor

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award you will need to apply through CIES.

Non U.S. Professor

If you are a non-U.S. citizen and a professor interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award to the United States you would need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program.